Released 11 February 2011 Charm School(2011) Travelling(2012) Release date 11 February 2011 | Label EMI | |
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Recorded 2009–2010, Aerosol Grey Machine Studio, Vallarum (Sweden) Nominations Echo Award for Best International Rock/Pop Group Similar Roxette albums, Pop music albums | ||
Roxette charm school interview epk
Charm School is the eighth studio album by Swedish pop duo Roxette, released on 11 February 2011. It is Roxette's first studio album in 10 years since 2001's Room Service and was the duo's biggest chart success since 1992's Tourism in countries like Germany and Switzerland, where it reached number one.
Contents
- Roxette charm school interview epk
- Roxette charm school 2011 song ratings from 1 to 10
- Background
- Critical reception
- Track listing
- Vinyl edition
- Outtakes
- Personnel
- Songs
- References
According to their official website, the album was released on CD and LP. A deluxe edition, including a bonus CD with 12 live tracks was also available. These songs were recorded in Saint Petersburg, Halmstad and Stavanger during their 2010 Tour. Charm School had been certificated Gold in Sweden, Austria, Germany, Russia and Czech Republic within 4 months of its release, and was eventually certified Platinum in Germany for shipments of over 200,000 units.
A digital-only American release for the album was released on 26 July 2011. On 28 November 2011, the album was re-released under the title Charm School Revisited with a bonus disc containing demo versions of every track from the album, plus two remixes of "She's Got Nothing On (But the Radio)" and one of "Speak to Me".
Roxette charm school 2011 song ratings from 1 to 10
Background
On 23 October 2009, the Swedish newspaper Expressen reported that Roxette were recording new songs. Per stated that he had been working on new material for an upcoming album since May 2009.
Critical reception
Charm School was chosen as BBC Radio 2's album of the week for the week commencing 21 March 2011. It received a positive review from BBC music critic Chris Roberts, who commented, "Charm School is loaded with punchy, hook-riddled anthems that can only be described as absolute belters. From the opening surge of "Way Out", a sonic sibling to Joan Jett's "I Love Rock 'n' Roll" only even bigger, louder and dumber, this album consummately achieves its goals and then some." Stephen Thomas Erlewine from Allmusic wrote, "Roxette may be a band out of time on Charm School but, well, that’s their charm: they’re still unapologetically big pop, they still celebrate melody over everything else."
Spin magazine voted Charm School the 15th best pop album in 2011, saying "Even more influential than ABBA on the Swedes behind Britney, Kelly and Ke$ha, these masters of the pre-grunge pop airwaves return from the near-dead for a thrilling third act of classic rock riffage, supercharged sugar hooks, and soul-aching choruses bigger than the national debt".
Reception from Swedish newspapers was less positive, Anders Nunstedt from Expressen wrote, "Charm School is a clear return to the successful sound the duo had. Just a little boring. Without the former charm." Charm School is middle-of-the-road pop at 70 kph with no specific destination." Andres Lokko form Svenska Dagbladet gave a scathing review, scoring the album one star and said "Often I found myself thinking about how there is too much pop music, to ever be able to find a single reason for this album's existence."
Track listing
All tracks written by Per Gessle.
Vinyl edition
According to a news entry on their official website, from 26 December 2010 the LP will contain a longer version of "No One Makes It on Her Own" (3:58) and a slower version of "Speak to Me".
Outtakes
Personnel
Songs
1Way Out2:46
2No One Makes It On Her Own3:43
3She's Got Nothing On (But The Radio)3:34